Device and method for in-mold compression and/or in-mold injection and for edging a decorative material with a supporting material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a process for the compression and/or injection in-mold lamination of a decorative material ( 1 ) and for the complete bordering of at least part of the edge ( 2 ) of this decorative material with a backing material ( 3 ) are proposed. The apparatus comprises at least two mold parts—forming a cavity ( 4 ). A first mold part ( 5 ) comprises pressing means ( 7 ) and a second mold part ( 6 ) comprises holding means ( 8 ) for holding a decorative material ( 1 ), placed into the cavity ( 4, 4 ′), at a distance from a surface ( 9 ) of the cavity formed by the second mold part ( 6 ), these holding means ( 8 ) being arranged raised with respect to this surface ( 9 ), entirely within the cavity ( 4, 4 ′) and immovably with respect to the surface ( 9 ) of the latter. The apparatus is characterized in that the holding means ( 8 ) are arranged entirely within the cavity ( 4, 4 ′) and immovably with respect to the surface ( 9 ) of the latter and in that the pressing means ( 7 ) are designed and arranged such that the decorative material ( 1 ) is pressed by them onto the holding means ( 8 )—at least in the vicinity of the edge ( 2 )—at least during the compression and/or injection in-mold lamination.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the bordering of a decorative material, or atleast part of the edge of the same, by using compression and/orinjection in-mold lamination with a backing material. Serving forcarrying out the process is an apparatus which comprises at least twomold parts—forming a cavity. According to a first aspect, the inventionrelates to an apparatus corresponding to the precharacterizing clause ofthe independent claim 1. According to a second aspect, the inventionrelates to a process for compression or injection in-mold laminationcorresponding to the precharacterizing clause of the independent claim13 or 15, respectively.

In many areas of technology, use is made of components made of plasticwhich, apart from functional requirements, also have to meet estheticdemands. Automotive engineering may be mentioned as one example of manysuch areas, such plastic components being used here for interior trim,parcel shelves, removable interior trunk lids, dashboards and the like.To design these in an esthetically pleasing form, a decorative layer istherefore often applied to a visible side of the plastic component as aseparate surface layer. For reasons of unproblematical disposal orsimplified reuse, the decorative material should preferably be producedfrom the same material as the supporting plastic component. Suchsingle-substance materials can be recycled much more cost-effectivelythan mixed materials, which first have to be separated. For producingsuch plastic components, the so-called compression in-mold lamination orback compression molding process was developed. This process isdescribed in the publication “Kunststoffe im Automobilbau” [plastics inautomotive engineering], VDI-Verlag GmbH, Dusseldorf 1994. It providesthat a decorative layer is fastened on an upper mold part of an openedmold, the parts of which form a cavity, in such a way that it covers thesurface of the upper mold part, or the surface of the cavity, ifappropriate over the full surface area. Subsequently, a molten andtherefore flowable plastics compound is injected into the still openedmold, for example by means of the melt-flow method, or is placed in itby means of the layer application method. After that, the mold isclosed, whereby the plastics compound is distributed uniformly in thecavity of the mold under the closing pressure, and, at least in the caseof decorative materials with pores, such as for example in the case oftextile materials, penetrates partly into the decorative material. Adecorative material may also fuse at its surface with the backingmaterial. The plastics compound subsequently solidifies and therebyenters into an intimate bond with the decorative layer. This compressionin-mold lamination process may also be combined with the injectionin-mold lamination or back injection molding process, in which thebacking material is injected onto the rear side of the decorativematerial in the already closed mold, into which the decorative materialwas previously placed.

Such a compression and/or injection in-mold lamination process can beused to produce a backing layer suitable for a decorative material. Theone-piece production of this backing layer, which moreover borders theedge of the decorative material, would compensate for thecutting-to-size tolerances in the decorative material and simplifyproduction by eliminating the operation of adhesively attaching forexample a carpet. However, a great problem which arises here is thepositioning or secure holding of the edge of the decorative material inthe cavity of a mold for compression or injection in-mold lamination.The displacement of the filled plastics material melt caused by thepressing force can, for example, cause the edge of the decorativematerial to be compressed or raised in an unpredictable way, so thisedge may be made to shift onto the surface of the border because it isdisplaced by the backing material. A neatly formed border which coversthe edge of the decorative material reliably and completely consequentlycannot be ensured.

FR 1 496 387 and GB 2 103 534 disclose processes and apparatuses for theinjection in-mold lamination of a decorative material and for thebordering of the edges of the latter. The decorative material is in eachcase held—during a first injection phase—against displacement. Movable,sprung or retractable feelers, which are moved away by the pressure ofthe injected plastic or by the decorative material acting on them fromthe outside, serve as holding means. While in the case of FR 1 496 387the decorative material is held at its corners, the holding means in GB2 103 534 act on the surface of the decorative material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus and a process forthe compression and/or injection in-mold lamination of decorativematerials, such as carpets, textiles or films, and for the bordering ofat least part of the edge of these decorative materials with a backingmaterial in the form of a flowable compound, with which apparatus andprocess the edge of this decorative material can be reliably held duringthe compression/injection in-mold lamination and while the bordering ofthe edges is being carried out, in order that this edge is completelyenclosed by the border.

This object and others to become apparent as the specificationprogresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which,briefly stated, the apparatus for an in-mold lamination of a decorativematerial includes a first mold part; a pressing device forming a portionof the first mold part and being immovable with respect thereto; asecond mold part defining a mold part cavity having a bottom surface;and a fixed holding device forming a portion of the second mold part andbeing immovable with respect thereto. The fixed holding device is raisedabove the bottom surface for supporting the decorative material spacedfrom and above the bottom surface. The pressing device faces the fixedholding device. The first mold part is movable toward the second moldpart in a closing direction into a closed position for pressing thedecorative material between the pressing device and the fixed holdingdevice during in-mold lamination. In the closed position the first andsecond mold parts together form a closed mold cavity. The mold partcavity of the second mold part forms a portion of the closed moldcavity.

Advantages of the invention over the prior art comprise the possibilityof reliably bordering even decorative materials which have a complicatedor irregular spatial form.

The proposed holding means, which are fixed—i.e. immovable with respectto the surface of the cavity on which these holding means arearranged—represent a simple device. Not only can they be produced morecost-effectively in comparison with the sprung or retractable feelers inthe apparatuses of the prior art, but it can also be expected from theproposed solution that they are less susceptible to faults than theapparatuses in the prior art.

The following figures concern the schematic representation ofembodiments by way of example, which show individual aspects of theapparatus according to the invention and of the process according to theinvention. Any desired combinations of these aspects lead to furtherembodiments, which are likewise covered by the idea of the invention.These figures consequently do not in any way restrict the scope of theinvention. In the figures:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show schematic sectional representations of twoembodiments of the invention, for explaining the difference in principlebetween injection in-mold lamination and compression in-mold lamination;wherein FIG. 1A illustrates the opened mold for injection in-moldlamination; FIG. 1B shows the closed mold for injection in-moldlamination or compression in-mold lamination; and FIG. 1C illustratesthe opened mold for compression in-mold lamination or injection in-moldlamination;

FIG. 2 shows a closed apparatus, according to a first embodiment, beforeinjection in-mold lamination with a backing material;

FIG. 3 shows a partly opened apparatus, according to a secondembodiment, during the injection of a backing material by means of themelt-flow method and subsequent compression in-mold lamination;

FIG. 4 shows a closed apparatus, according to a second embodiment,before injection in-mold lamination with a backing material;

FIG. 5 shows a closed apparatus, according to a third embodiment, beforeinjection in-mold lamination with two backing materials;

FIG. 6 shows a closed apparatus, according to a fourth embodiment,before injection in-mold lamination with two backing materials;

FIG. 7 shows a closed apparatus, according to a fifth embodiment, beforeinjection in-mold lamination with a backing material by means of theinternal gas pressure method;

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C show a component with a decorative material which isbonded with a backing material over its surface area and is at leastpartly enclosed completely by a border at the edge; wherein FIG. 8Aillustrates the backing material and the edge border consisting of thesame material; FIG. 8B shows the edge border being formed such that itis hollow and the material of which was introduced in a different waythan the remaining backing material; and FIG. 8C illustrates the edgeborder being designed as a sealing lip having an undercut and consistingof a different material than the backing material; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B show comb-like combinations of holding means designed asneedles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for the injection in-mold lamination, or forthe compression and/or injection in-mold lamination, of a decorativematerial 1 and for the bordering of at least part of the edge 2 of thisdecorative material with a backing material 3. Such an apparatuscomprises at least two mold parts 5, 6—forming a cavity 4, 4′. A firstmold part 5 comprises pressing means 7 and a second mold part 6comprises holding means 8 for holding a decorative material 1, placedinto the cavity 4, 4′, at a distance from a surface 9 of the cavityformed by the second mold part 6. These holding means 8 are raised withrespect to this surface 9 and are arranged entirely within the cavity 4,4′ and immovably with respect to the surface 9 of the latter. Thepressing means 7 are designed and arranged such that the decorativematerial 1 is pressed by them onto the holding means 8—at least in thevicinity of the edge 2—at least during the compression and/or injectionin-mold lamination.

Before the injection in-mold lamination (FIGS. 1A and 1B), thedecorative material 1 is placed into the cavity 4, 4′ and onto theholding means 8. The mold is then completely closed, which has theeffect that the decorative material 1 is clamped between the pressingmeans 7 and the holding means 8 at least in the vicinity of its edge,but preferably not directly at the edge. The decorative material is thenheld so securely that it cannot slip during the injection of theflowable plastics compound. During the injection or injection in-moldlamination, the plastics material presses the decorative material upwardagainst the pressing means 7 and the surface 10, so that the plasticscompound cannot flow onto the upper side of the decorative material 1.Apparatuses for injection in-mold lamination may—as a departure from therepresentation in FIG. 1—assume any desired spatial position, so thatthe relationships below and above must be understood only as descriptiveand not restrictive. Before compression in-mold lamination (FIGS. 1C and1B), the decorative material 1 is placed into the cavity 4, 4′ and ontoadditional, movable holding means 8′, which hold the decorative materialso far above the surface 9 that plastics compound can be introduced intothe mold without said compound touching the decorative material. Thesemovable holding means 8′ are preferably arranged further away from theedge of the decorative material than the fixed holding means 8. Afterintroducing the plastics compound, the mold—which has vertical flashfaces (not shown), which are known per se and make it possible for themold to be closed before the plastics compound is displaced by thepressing force caused by the mold parts 5, 6 moving completelytogether—is fully closed. This has the effect that the decorativematerial 1 is clamped between the pressing means 7 and the fixed holdingmeans 8, at least in the vicinity of its edge (but preferably notdirectly at the edge), and the plastics compound is distributed by theclosing pressure. The decorative material is then held so securely thatit cannot slip during the compression in-mold lamination of the flowableplastics compound. It goes without saying that the apparatus accordingto FIG. 1C can also be used for injection in-mold lamination.Apparatuses for compression in-mold lamination can—as a departure fromthe representation in FIG. 1—assume such a spatial position that themold halves are moved horizontally toward each other.

A first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention isrepresented in FIG. 2 and comprises holding means 8, which are fixedlyconnected to the second mold part 6. These holding means 8 areconsequently suitable for securely holding in the closed mold aplaced-in decorative material 1, in order that the edge 2 can becompletely enclosed by a border during the injection in-mold lamination.The holding means 8 are arranged such that the decorative material ispressed against the pressing means 7, at least in the vicinity of itsedge 2. Preferably, the pressing means 7 is designed as a fixed blade,which brings about a relatively high contact pressure and consequently apinching together of the decorative material 2 (cf. FIG. 1B). Ifrequired, for example because of the size or shape of the decorativematerial, further fixed holding means 8 may be provided, also holdingthe decorative material in zones away from the edge against the moldsurface 10, likewise acting as a pressing means 7″. 14 denotes a needlevalve nozzle, via which the plastics compound can be injected into thecavity 4, 4′.

The apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention isrepresented in FIG. 3. This mold comprises a first mold part 5 and asecond mold part 6. These two mold parts together define a cavity 4, 4′.The mold has been partly opened, so that backing material 3 can bebrought into the cavity 4 as a flowable plastics compound and—to preparefor the compression in-mold lamination operation—applied to the surface9 of the second mold part 6. This preferably takes place without thebacking material being able to come into contact with the decorativematerial 1. Additional holding means 8′ are designed for this purposesuch that they are movable (marked by double-headed arrow) over such alarge distance that, when the mold is partly opened, an adequately largedistance can be maintained between the decorative material 1 pressedagainst the surface 10 of the first mold part 5 and the backing material3 applied to the surface 9 of the second mold part 6. The fixed holdingmeans 8 are arranged such that the decorative material is pressedagainst the pressing means 7, at least in the vicinity of its edge 2. Ifrequired, for example because of the size or shape of the decorativematerial, further movable holding means 8′ may be provided, also holdingthe decorative material in zones away from the edge against the moldsurface 10, likewise acting as a pressing means 7″.

In this situation, the decorative material 1 is placed in its finishedform into the apparatus. The backing material 3 may then be applied tothe surface 9 of the cavity 4, for example by means of a pivotable slotdie (layer application method, not shown) or by means of at least oneneedle valve nozzle 14 (melt-flow method, see FIG. 3). The mold is thenclosed and the backing material is thereby distributed uniformly in thezones 4 and 4′ of the cavity by the contact pressure and is pressed insurface-area contact with the rear side of the decorative material 1.The decorative material 1, in particular its edge 2, is held during theclosing of the mold by means of the movable holding means 8′ against thesurface 10 of the first mold part 5 and by means of the fixed holdingmeans 8 in the region of the edge 2. This achieves the effect that itretains its position within the cavity in such a way that the part ofthe edge 2 to be bordered always protrudes into the zone 4′ of thecavity and is consequently flowed around completely by the backingmaterial 3. In principle, it is sufficient to design the location of thefirst mold part 5 designated as pressing means 7 as a simple edge.

In order that the decorative material is held even more securely, thislocation 7 may be designed as a blade, rake or similar structure whichreduces the contact area with the decorative material 1 and is raisedabove the surface 10 of the first mold part 5.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention, in the closed position. The backing material in the form of aflowable plastics compound is about to be injected through the at leastone needle valve nozzle 14. As this takes place, the fixed holding means8 hold the decorative material 1—preferably uniformly, but at least inits region near the edge—against the surface 10 of the first mold part5, so that it is held securely in the desired position during theinjection in-mold lamination. The holding force with which theadditional, movable holding means 8′ press the decorative materialagainst the surface 10 of the first mold part 5 is preferablyadjustable.

The movable holding means 8′ may also be designed such that they can bewithdrawn during the injection in-mold lamination or during thedisplacement caused by the pressing force.

A third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention isrepresented in FIG. 5 and comprises holding means 8, which are fixedlyconnected to the second mold part 6. These holding means 8 areconsequently suitable for securely holding in the closed mold aplaced-in decorative material 1, in order that the edge 2 can becompletely enclosed by a border during the injection in-mold lamination.This third embodiment differs from the previous embodiments essentiallyby having at least one slide 12, with which the zone 4′ of the cavitywhich serves for the bordering of the edge 2 of the decorative material1 can be shut off with respect to the zone 4 of the cavity in which thedecorative material is subjected to compression and/or injection in-moldlamination over its surface area. The use of this slide makes possible aneat transitional zone between two different backing materials 3′, 3″,which are brought into the cavity one after the other. The slide may bedesigned such that it is straight, parallel to the edge of thedecorative material, or curved, but may also have a shape which iscurved or serrated to such an extent that a denticulation is producedbetween the two backing materials 3′, 3″. This third embodiment alsomakes it possible for the zone 4 of the cavity to be filled as desiredby means of compression in-mold lamination or injection in-moldlamination of the decorative material and the zone 4′ to be filled withthe same or another backing material for bordering the edge by injectionmolding. Referred to here as other backing materials 3″ are plasticswhich have a different composition and/or a different strength from thatof the backing material 3′ applied over the surface area bycompression/injection in-mold lamination.

A fourth embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention isrepresented in FIG. 6. This essentially combines the embodiments 2 and3. The fixed holding means 8 are arranged such that the decorativematerial 1 is pressed against the pressing means 7′, designed here as aslide, at least in the vicinity of its edge 2. With the aid of thisslide, a so-called undercut 18 (see also FIG. 8C) can be produced in theregion of the transition of the edge border of backing material 3 to thedecorative material 1. In this way, impressions attributable to theaction of a pressing means 7, 7′ in the vicinity of the edge 2 of thedecorative material can be successfully masked. If the surface 10 of thefirst mold part 5 is used as the pressing means 7″, this problem ofimpressions in the decorative material is less pronounced. In order,however, to produce even fewer impressions on the front side of thedecorative material, needles are preferably used as the movable holdingmeans 8′. However, in order that the decorative material can beeffectively held, these needles are to have at least two points, whichare interconnected such that the decorative material is not simplypierced by the entire needle.

FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the apparatus according to theinvention. This differs from the previous embodiments essentially byhaving at least one gas inlet 11, with which the zone 4′ of the cavity,which serves for the bordering of at least part of the edge 2 of thedecorative material 1, can be filled using the so-called internal gaspressure method (IGP method). If the apparatus is fitted with holdingdevices 8′ which are movable over a relatively large distance (cf. FIGS.1C, 3, 4 and 6), it is suitable for the compression and/or injectionin-mold lamination of the decorative material. If the apparatus isfitted with fixed holding devices 8, it is suitable for the injectionin-mold lamination of the decorative material 1. Whether or not the zone4′ is separated by a slide 12 from the zone 4 of the cavity, the zone 4′of the cavity is always completely filled with plastics melt in a firstphase of the IGP method. In a second phase—after the plastics melt incontact with the mold has solidified at least partially—the stillflowable core of the backing material is displaced out of the cavity 4′into an overflow vessel (not shown), preferably by introducing orforcing in a gas. Once the component—which comprises a compressionand/or injection in-mold laminated decorative material 1, the edge 2 ofwhich is at least partly enclosed completely by a border—has curedsufficiently, it can be demolded. A new decorative material is thenplaced into the cavity 4 of the apparatus and the next component isproduced.

Examples of components produced by the process according to theinvention or using the apparatus according to the invention arerepresented in FIG. 8:

FIG. 8A shows a component with a decorative material 1, which is bondedover its surface area with a backing material 3 and is at least partlyenclosed at the edge 2 by a border and in which the backing material andthe edge border consist of the same material. The depressions 15 nearthe edge are characteristic of components which are produced with theapparatuses and processes described or shown here. These depressionsoccur on the rear side of the backing material, at least in the regionsnear the edge of the bordered decorative material of the component.Their extent and arrangement essentially correspond to the extent andarrangement of the fixed holding means 8. This component was produced bymeans of injection in-mold lamination.

FIG. 8B shows a component of the generic type in which the edge borderis designed such that it is hollow and the edge border consists of amaterial 3″ introduced in a different way than the backing material 3′.In addition to the depressions 15 near the edge, depressions 15′ awayfrom the edge can also be seen here, these occurring because the movableholding means 8′ were not withdrawn during the displacement. The backingmaterial 3′ bonded over its surface area with the decorative material 1was processed by means of compression in-mold lamination (afterintroducing the plastics melt by the layer application method). Thebacking material 3′ bordering the edge 2 of the decorative material 1was introduced by means of injection in-mold lamination by the IGPmethod, so that a hollow space 16 was produced in the edge border. Thetransitional zone, which is of a serrated form, is located between thedepressions 15 and 15′ shown. The slide 12 of the apparatus was pressedagainst the decorative material during the compression in-moldlamination and withdrawn continuously between the mold parts in a mannercorresponding to the closing of the cavity, but always remained in goodcontact with the decorative material. Only once the plastics materialhad sufficiently solidified was the slide fully withdrawn, the edgeborder injected and the hollow space 16 produced.

FIG. 8C shows a component of the generic type in which the edge borderis designed as a sealing lip 17, has an undercut 18 and consists of adifferent, softer material 3″ than the backing material 3′. Afterplacing the decorative material 1 onto the fixed holding means, the moldwas closed and firstly—with the slide 12 closed—the harder backingmaterial 3′, to be bonded over its full surface area with the decorativematerial 1, was injected into the zone 4 of the cavity. The slides,designed with a wave form, which were arranged between the holding means15 near the edge and the holding means 15′ away from the edge, were thenwithdrawn and the softer backing material 3″ was then injected into thestill empty zone 4′ of the cavity. The wave form of the slides used hadthe effect of considerably enlarging the contact area between the twobacking materials 3′, 3″, so that a flexible sealing lip could be moldedin one piece onto the component and would not become detached from theharder backing material in spite of the high stress. An identicalcomponent—without the depressions 15′ away from the edge—could also beproduced by means of compression in-mold lamination if, during the lastphase of the displacement caused by the pressing force, the movableholding means 8′ were withdrawn flush with the surface.

Not depicted in the figures are devices known per se, such as extruders,heating and cooling lines, manifolds, vertical flash faces,pressure-relief lines etc.; these devices are provided or used asnecessary by a person skilled in the art.

It goes without saying that—at least for the injection in-moldlamination—the first mold part 5 and the second mold part 6 can beinterchanged and the holding means 8, 8′ and the pressing means 7,7′, 7″can be attached to the respectively opposite mold part. The closingmovement of the apparatus according to the invention may be horizontal,vertical or deviating as desired from these two directions.

For the compression in-mold lamination of decorative material 1, anapparatus according to the second embodiment (FIGS. 2, 3) may bedesigned such that it is horizontally movable, so that the cavity 4, 4′runs mainly in the vertical direction, as a departure from FIGS. 1 to 7.In this case as well, the decorative material 1 is held by the movableholding means 8′ against the surface of the opposite mold part, so thatbacking material 3 introduced into the cavity 4 by means of themelt-flow method cannot come into contact with the decorative material 1as long as the mold is still partly opened.

In order to prevent, at least partly, the depressions 15 in the backingmaterial 3 on the rear side of the component, it is possible, forexample in compression in-mold lamination, for the movable holding means8′ to be fully or partly withdrawn in the final phase of the closing ofthe mold—if the displacement caused by the pressing force has alreadyessentially filled the cavity 4, 4′. In order to produce even fewerimpressions on the front side of the decorative material 1, needles arepreferably used as the movable holding means 8′. However, in order thatthe decorative material can be effectively held, these needles are tohave at least two points, which are interconnected such that thedecorative material is not simply pierced by the entire needle.Especially preferred are also comb-like combinations of needles, theindividual points of which (see FIG. 9A) are not longer than thethickness d of the decorative material to be held. Such combs offer theadvantage, moreover, that, if they are to be designed as movable holdingmeans 8′, they can be moved by simple means which interact with thecombs outside the cavity 4. The intermediate spaces z between theneedles are arranged more or less far apart, in a manner correspondingto the decorative material used, so that the backing material can passthrough these intermediate spaces z and completely fill the zone 4′ ofthe cavity between the mold parts 5, 6. As shown in FIG. 9B, bluntneedles may also be used, these being shorter, for example by preciselythe thickness d of the decorative material, than the pointed needles andalso spaced apart by intermediate spaces z. The depressions 15 producedon the rear side of the component in the backing material 3 by the fixedholding means 8 near the edge do not mar the appearance of such acomponent, since they are generally arranged out of sight from theuser—as in the example of components designed as map pockets on theinsides of car doors. If needles have points, they hold the decorativematerial extremely well in place; it may therefore be advantageous todesign the needles in a correspondingly flexible form, in order to allowcompensation for small movements and deformations of the decorativematerial.

All plastics suitable for a compression and/or injection in-moldlamination process, that is to say thermoplastics or permanentlyflexible polymers such as for example polypropylene, ABS copolymers(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers) or thermoplastic rubbersetc., come into consideration as materials. These plastics may also bereinforced for example with fibers or mats. To increase the strength orhardness, the backing materials laminated with the decorative materialover the full surface area by compression in-mold lamination maycomprise reinforcements or added fillers. In this case, differentlycolored decorative materials and/or plastics with a different textureare also often used. As a departure from the processes and materialsdescribed, other flowable or pasty compounds may also be used in theproduction of components according to the invention.

The following are mentioned as representative, and in no way exhaustive,examples of applications for the use of the apparatuses and processesaccording to the invention:

lining or covering elements in means of transport (for example in cars,buses, trams, railways, ships or aircraft) comprising in particular mappockets, pillar trim (with or without connections for window glass),floor carpets, coverings of floors and walls of the trunk floor andtrunk lid.

Seating for mass means of transport, in particular seat shells andrests.

Cladding elements in building construction, in particular baseboardscovered with carpet for rooms in residential and office buildings, aswell as carpets provided with surrounds on stairs and in doorways.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for the compression and/or injectionin-mold lamination of a decorative material (1) and for the bordering ofat least part of the edge (2) of this decorative material with a backingmaterial (3), which apparatus comprises at least two mold parts (5,6)—forming a cavity (4, 4′); a first mold part (5) comprising pressingmeans (7, 7′, 7″) and a second mold part (6) comprising holding means(8) for holding a decorative material (1), placed into the cavity (4,4′), at a distance from a surface (9) of the cavity formed by the secondmold part (6), and these holding means (8) being raised with respect tothis surface (9), characterized in that the holding means (8) and thepressing means (7, 7′, 7″) are arranged entirely within the cavity (4,4′) and respectively immovably with respect to the surface (9 or 10) ofthe latter and in that the pressing means (7,7′, 7″) are designed andarranged respectively directly opposite the holding means (8) in theclosing direction of the apparatus such that the decorative material (1)is pressed between the holding means (8) and the pressing means (7, 7′,7″)—at least in the vicinity of the edge (2)—at least during thecompression and/or injection in-mold lamination.
 2. A process for thecompression in-mold lamination of a decorative material (1) and for thebordering of at least part of the edge (2) of this decorative materialwith a backing material (3) by using an apparatus which comprises atleast two mold parts (5, 6)—forming a cavity (4, 4′); a first mold part(5) comprising pressing means (7, 7′, 7″) and a-second mold part (6)comprising holding means (8) for holding a decorative material (1),placed into the cavity (4, 4′), at a distance from a surface (9) of thecavity formed by the second mold part (6) and these holding means (8)being raised with respect to this surface (9), characterized in thatthese holding means (8) and pressing means (7, 7′, 7″) are arrangedentirely within the cavity (4, 4′), respectively immovably with respectto the surface (9 or 10) of the latter and directly opposite one anotherin the closing direction of the apparatus, a decorative material (1)being placed into the cavity (4, 4′), the decorative material being heldat a distance from this surface (9) by movable holding means (8′), whichare raised with respect to a surface (9) of the cavity formed by thesecond mold part (6), and the decorative material (1) being pressed bymeans of the pressing means onto the holding means (8)—at least in thevicinity of the edge (2)—at least during the compression in-moldlamination.
 3. A process for the injection in-mold lamination of adecorative material (1) and for the bordering of at least part of theedge (2) of this decorative material with a backing material (3) byusing an apparatus which comprises at least two mold parts (5,6)—forming a cavity (4, 4′); a first mold part (5) comprising pressingmeans (7, 7′, 7″) and a second mold part (6) comprising holding means(8) for holding a decorative material (1), placed into the cavity (4,4′), at a distance from a surface (9) of the cavity formed by the secondmold part (6) and these holding means (8) being raised with respect tothis surface (9), characterized in that these holding means (8) andpressing means (7, 7′, 7″) are arranged entirely within the cavity (4,4′), respectively immovably with respect to the surface (9) of thelatter and directly opposite one another in the closing direction of theapparatus, a decorative material (1) being placed into the cavity (4,4′) and the cavity being closed, so that the decorative material (1) ispressed by means of the pressing means (7, 7′, 7″) onto the holdingmeans (8)—at least in the vicinity of the edge (2)—at least during theinjection in-mold lamination.
 4. An apparatus for an in-mold laminationof a decorative material, comprising (a) a first mold part; (b) pressingmeans forming a portion of said first mold part and being immovable withrespect thereto; (c) a second mold part defining a mold part cavityhaving a bottom surface; and (d) fixed holding means forming a portionof said second mold part and being immovable with respect thereto; saidfixed holding means being raised above said bottom surface forsupporting the decorative material spaced from and above said bottomsurface; said pressing means facing said fixed holding means; said firstmold part being movable toward said second mold part in a closingdirection into a closed position for pressing the decorative materialbetween said pressing means and said fixed holding means during in-moldlamination; in said closed position said first and second mold partstogether forming a closed mold cavity; said mold part cavity of saidsecond mold part forming a portion of said closed mold cavity; saidpressing means and said fixed holding means being situated in theirentirety in said closed mold cavity.
 5. The apparatus as defined inclaim 4, wherein said mold cavity includes a lateral bordering edge; andfurther wherein said fixed holding means and said pressing means arespaced from said lateral bordering edge.
 6. The apparatus as defined inclaim 4, further comprising movable holding means displaceably supportedin said second mold part for supporting the decorative material in anopen state of the apparatus.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6,wherein said movable holding means are constituted by one of a pluralityof pins each having two points, a plurality of cams, a plurality of ribsand a plurality of columns.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6,wherein said movable holding means include a plurality of holdingcomponents interconnected to form a group.
 9. The apparatus as definedin claim 4, wherein said pressing means constitutes a blade.
 10. Theapparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said pressing means forms asurface of said first mold part inside said mold cavity.
 11. Theapparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising a gas inlet openinginto said mold cavity.
 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, furthercomprising a slide dividing said mold cavity into a first zone forsubjecting the decorative material to one of injection and compressionin-mold lamination over a surface area of the material and into a secondzone for forming a border of an edge of the decorative material.
 13. Theapparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising injection nozzlesopening into said first and second zones, respectively, for injecting abacking material into said first and second zones.
 14. A process for thecompression in-mold lamination of a decorative material and for an atleast partial bordering of an edge of the decorative material with abacking material, performed by the apparatus defined in claim 6,comprising the following steps: (a) positioning said movable holdingmeans such that a material supporting face thereof is spaced from saidbottom surface of said second mold part; (b) placing the decorativematerial on the supporting face of said movable holding means; (c)introducing the backing material into said mold cavity in contact withsaid bottom surface of said second mold part and out of contact with thedecorative material supported on said movable holding means; (d)pressing the decorative material against said fixed holding means bysaid pressing means in an edge region of the decorative material; and(e) laminating the backing material to said decorative material in saidmold cavity by applying compression.
 15. The process as defined in claim14, further comprising the step of forcing a gas into said mold cavityfor producing a hollow space in the backing material.
 16. The process asdefined in claim 14, further comprising the step of withdrawing saidmovable holding means from the decorative material prior to saidlaminating step.
 17. A process for the injection in-mold lamination of adecorative material and for an at least partial bordering of an edge ofthe decorative material with a backing material, performed by theapparatus defined in claim 4, comprising the following steps: (a)placing the decorative material into the mold cavity on said fixedholding means above and spaced from said bottom surface of said secondmold part while the first and second mold parts are separated from oneanother to assume an open position; (b) moving the first and second moldparts into a closed position whereby the decorative material is pressedagainst the fixed holding means by said pressing means in an edge regionof the decorative material; and (c) injecting into the closed mold thebacking material between the decorative material and said first surface,whereby the backing material is laminated to the decorative material.18. The process as defined in claim 17, further comprising the step offorcing a gas into said mold cavity for producing a hollow space in thebacking material.
 19. A component with a decorative material (1) whichis bonded over its surface area with a backing material (3) and is atleast partly bordered at the edge (2) by means of the process accordingto claim
 17. 20. The component as claimed in claim 19, characterized inthat the backing material (3) comprises a hard part (3′) and a soft part(3″).
 21. The component as claimed in claim 20, characterized in thatthe soft part (3″) of the backing material (3) comprises a sealing lip(17).
 22. The component as claimed in claim 13, characterized in thatthe backing material (3) which is applied to the decorative material (1)over its surface area by injection in-mold lamination and which bordersat least part of the edge (2) is molded onto the decorative material (1)in one piece.
 23. A component with a decorative material (1) which isbonded over its surface area with a backing material (3) and is at leastpartly bordered at the edge (2) by means of the process according toclaim
 14. 24. The component as claimed in claim 23, characterized inthat the backing material (3) comprises a hard part (3′) and a soft part(3″).
 25. The component as claimed in claim 24, characterized in thatthe soft part (3″) of the backing material (3) comprises a sealing lip(17).
 26. The component as claimed in claim 23, characterized in thatthe backing material (3) which is applied to the decorative material (1)over its surface area by compression in-mold lamination and whichborders at least part of the edge (2) is molded onto the decorativematerial (1) in one piece.